you see, I know how the oil gauge flunctuates normally as it depends on the RPM revving and the speed of the vehicle, but....

as it doesn't happen often, my gauge's needle went off the chart for a minute or two while going fwy speed (70-75) on the road. I kept the gas pedal steady and did not floor it or jump off it. this happened once last summer, as far as I noticed and since then have kept my eye on the gauge more than usual. now today, it happened again. it would not calm down when I ease off the pedal nor when I give my XJ a kick on the gas.

after the first scare last summer, I immediately got a new sender unit then realized I had all my tools at work. since then I've kept forgetting about it (who hasn't?).

re-reading up on the threads that I found off google, including this one. as far as it goes, none of them mentioned the gauges going wild and crazy like mine did. I'm about to replace the unit now, but have doubts that it would solve the problem.

any thoughts?

 

The sensor/sending unit is faulty. Our ZJ did this and then the interior diaphram ruptured resulting in large oil leak out the rear (wires) of the sending unit. We were lucky to catch it. As in another thread, this is one reason a gauge is more informative than just the light. You should replace the sender.

 

^this

 

Sounds exactly like what happened to me.